Miller pitches Cardinals past Brewers again, win fourth straight

Miller (1-2) gave up a run on three hits with seven strikeouts, while Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run home run and Mark Ellis drove in a pair for the Cardinals, who have won four straight.

“This is a good team and we don’t take anything for granted,” said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny. “We just have to keep our focus that we have.”

Marco Estrada (1-1) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings and Aramis Ramirez hit a solo home run for the Brewers, who have dropped the first two of this set after winning nine straight.

“I think as well as we were swinging the bats it’s too early to panic,” said Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke. “It’s still young in the season and there’s going to be times where you run up against good pitching.”

Yadier Molina was hit by a pitch with one out in the St. Louis second and Peralta followed with a double. Ellis’ grounder to short plated Molina for a 1-0 lead.

In the third, Matt Carpenter walked with one out and Allen Craig smacked a double to center that brought home Carpenter for a 2-0 advantage.

The Cards produced another run in the fourth on Ellis’ sacrifice fly that plated Molina for a 3-0 advantage, but Ramirez hit a two-out solo home run in the home half to get Milwaukee on the board.

Pat Neshek pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, while Kevin Siegrist kept Milwaukee off the board in the eighth.

A solo home run from Matt Holliday, and two-run shot by Peralta in the ninth made it a five-run game and Seth Maness set the Brewers down in order in the ninth.